Welcome Spring By Going Green: A Round Up Of Electric Cars Around $30,000
Kia Soul EV
Kia has been making big moves in the EV market in an attempt to dethrone the Prius from their affordable, eco-friendly throne. The Soul EV keeps the spacious cubic footage of its gas-powered sibling and sporty handling dynamics without the fuel bill. The Soul EV is driven by a 30-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and 109-hp motor, which push its equivalent fuel economy to 120 mpg in the city. While the Soul EV is relatively sluggish off the line, with a zero to sixty time of over nine seconds, the spacious interior with high seating and subcompact-crossover layout make the Soul one of the more practical EVs. Unfortunately, rural outings may be limited since the Soul has a range of just 111 miles, which is on the low end of the average for other EVs with similar-sized batteries and price tags. The Kia makes up for its limited range by providing a quick charge time of just 35 minutes to 80% using a level 3 DC charger, which should give you plenty of time to enjoy the fresh air.
Next, we look at the brand that really sparked the electric car revival.
Tesla Model 3
If you can manage to get one amidst Tesla’s production woes, the Model 3 is exactly what Tesla promised: an affordable full electric vehicle that is ready for the future. Tesla leads the lower-priced pack with 220 miles range on base model, which is increased to a healthy 310 miles with the Long Range model from its 50 or 75 kWh battery, depending on which you choose. The car comes ready for autonomous driving ability through Tesla’s wireless updating system once it comes fully online. In the meantime, the tech is currently used for active safety features such as blind spot detection and backup cameras. The Model 3 charges quickly as well when using Tesla’s Supercharger system, filling the battery for 130 miles after just a half hour of charging; that number is boosted to 170 miles on the Long Range model. The roof is a solid piece of glass, giving you a panoramic view of the trees above as you wind your way through a forest road.